Pray, how long is the distance between five metres and 10 metres? If you think the difference is insignificant, then you have not been following the imbroglio between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Both government bodies are locked in horns over who should have the final say on how and where telecoms masts should be erected.

NESREA, had for weeks ago, shut down an MTN base station facility located at EFAB Estate, Mbora District, Abuja, for what the agency termed as 'non-compliance with proper Environmental Impact Assessment.' By the agency's rule, telecoms masts must be 10 metres away from residential buildings. But by the NCC's procedures, it is five metres, setting the stage for collision.

Angry that the NESREA was encroaching on its regulatory powers, the NCC unsealed the facility, warning that it would no longer condone such attitudes and actions from other government's agencies. Head of Compliance Monitoring at the NCC, Mr Ephraim Nwokenneya, could not have been more apt at presenting the commission's case when he led a team from the commission to unseal the MTN base station. "We are the only regulator of the telecoms industry in Nigeria, and as the only regulator, we must be fair and just on the industry players. NCC has a responsibility to regulate; any other is only secondary. If we must regulate and improve the quality of service, attract, foreign direct investment, create jobs, ensure national security, then, we will not allow this to go on."

The NCC/NESREA clash underscores an increasing suspicion by government agencies and the general public on the health hazards of telecoms masts to human population. But there is still no clear-cut proof that telecoms masts pose any serious health risks to human habitations. Often, when environmental and health authorities act against telecoms operators, it is borne out of conjectures and not scientific facts.

In the last four years or so, telecoms operators have come under series of attacks by concerned citizens, government agencies and even law courts for erecting masts outside of agreeable health standards, which of course is not based on informed health research but mere speculations. For instance in 2009, "the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna presided over by Hon. Justice M. L. Shuaibu ordered Helios Towers, to dismantle and remove its mast located in residential premises in Kaduna, installed without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment as required by law."

As reported by Daily Trust newspaper of 2 December, 2009, the judgment was sequel to an action brought against Helios Towers and the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) by NESREA.

The Daily Independent newspaper of 23 August, 2010, reported that FESTAC Town community in Lagos had asked a GSM company to "discontinue the erection of masts in their area with immediate effect, alleging there was no approval on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for masts installation in their community." This year in March, ThisDay newspaper reported that NESREA in Ilorin, Kwara State, sealed off a telecoms facility of a GSM operator alleging its violation of a national offence called 'environmental impact assessment Act of 1992, which states that environmental impact assessment should be carried out on any project to be installed to know the environmental impact of the facility on people, after which an approval letter would be issued.'

Online, there is a website designed to campaign against the erection of telecoms masts near human habitation. The site, http://www.mast-victims.org/, states its mission as "to bring together people from all over the world that have become victims of insensitive mast and antennas siting. Telecommunications companies are drowning us in radiation and they are in a state of complete denial on whether these masts and antennas have any negative health impact on the population. Credible scientific research shows that especially mobile phone mast radiation is harmful and people are suffering. Some people have even been forced to abandon their homes after becoming ill from radiation."

All these reveal the tension, challenges and even ignorance surrounding the erection of telecoms masts. As the industry evolves, the tension and controversies are bound to increase, unless of course, constituent authorities meet often to iron out the rough lines. NCC has a point: it will not augur well for an industry it regulates to become victim of rapacious encroachments. NESREA is also not absolutely wrong.

But it needs to work hand in hand with the NCC to achieve its core objective of bringing environmental sanity to all sectors.

While the controversy still rages over the health risks or otherwise of telecoms masts, I want to share with my readers this very interesting article by Samuel Dowuona on 'Radiation from telecoms masts and our health' first published by the GNA in 2009. Dowuona has sought to allay fears about the dangers of telecoms masts to human health as it concerns the Ghanaian environment. His article, as edited here, would apply very well to the current reality in Nigeria.